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National ‘Pick On Tweed’ Day

“Oh hey there, little fella, whatcha looking at?”Oh.Ah. Gotcha.I do believe Woo would be beyond ecstatic if I got him his very own boston terrier. But them things is nutso-hyper. Plus, little dogs are kinky as shit.

He will have to be content with his very own Piper.Who, by the way, clearly got the memo about National Pick On Tweed Day.In fact, just about everyone at the dog beach seemed to know what day it was.After a while, he got pretty paranoid. Understandably, since he was accosted from all directions. Sometimes by somethingdoodles.Poor Tweed.

We don’t know why it was Pick On Tweed Day, but some things are just mysteries of nature and can’t be explained. Like the mystery of why Woo jumps the way he does.Woo scoffs at gravity.Or he is part gazelle or something. Piper says other dogs don’t jump like that. Other dogs, apparently, hydroplane.

But not Woo!This is a funny photo of Cruz who is lovely, but not always swift.——————————————————————-

It’s been just over a week since I lost my heart dog, Briggs. Last Saturday morning the aftermath of his pancreatitis caused liver failure. Briggs woke me up from a nap to let me know he had soiled himself and he had turned completely yellow. We immediately went back to the vet, and we let my old man go. It was the hardest, most painful thing I have ever had to do all my 35 years, and his loss is the most haunting and hollow feeling I have ever known. And I thank Dr. Shaw at Kitsilano Animal Clinic for both trying to save my boy when being saved was an possibility, and being honest with me when it was Briggs’ time to go.

I also would like to thank all of you, for your comments and emails and messages and cards and phone calls. I could never answer you all; it’s not only painful to relive it but there were simply too many condolences. But please know that I appreciate each and every one of them, and while they are painful to read they are also very cathartic. Because every message tells me that my private Briggs was your public Red Dog, and that many of you loved him almost as much as I did. For a little dog with a troubled past and a too-short life, to be loved by so many is no small feat. And if I helped you all to love the World’s Most Amazing Dog, then he has gotten as much love in his life as he had for me, and I hope it was enough for him. No dog deserves it more.

I would especially like to thank those many of you who donated to TDBCR in Briggs’ honour. It’s incredibly generous of you, and since I started the rescue 8 years ago because of my Briggs, it’s a wonderful tribute to his time here with me. Thank you.

Lastly, there were two condolences I received that meant more to me than I can express. The first was from Katie, a newish veterinarian whom I’ve never met, who over the last 18 months or so has gone to lengths to help me sort out Briggs’ various health problems, and championed me when I felt like we were losing the battle. She told me that Briggs lives on in her patients because she knows so much more about treating arthritis and pancreatitis thanks to her efforts to help me address his health problems.

The other was from my good friend Mike, who simply wished me peace in my heart, and quiet in my mind, and told me that while the pain may be bad now, over time it will fade and one day I will have both those things. And knowing that this is possible is what gets me up in the morning.

Briggs’ collar sits over my monitor, and his soul sits in my heart. He was a good dog.